Air-brake.



No. 738,165." PATENTED SEPT 23, 1903;-

' A. J. DE LA GROIX.

AIR BRAKE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 23. 1903.

viii wages I Mom I @:t f I O k g kn attwzwz [it m 11 Patented September8, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR JALLAN DE LA CROIX, OF ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA.

AIR-BRAKE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 738,165, datedSeptember 8, 1903.

Application filed April 23, 1903. Serial No. 153,979. (No model.)

To (tZZ whom, it ntu/g concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR JALLAN DE LA CROIX, a subject of the Emperorof Russia,residing at St. Petersburg, Russia, (Whose postoffice addressis Nevski l1 Westinghouses offices, St. Petersburg, Russia,) haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Air- Brakes, of whichthe following is a specification.

My apparatus is designed to be employed in connection with automaticair-brakes of any system fitted to railway rolling-stock; and its objectis to automatically operate the brakes in cases where the trucks of therolling-stock are wrecked or the train has left the rails.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an end View, half in section,on the line A B of Fig. 2 of an apparatus embodying my invention. Fig. 2is a longitudinal sectionof the same on a diametrical plane.

The construction of the apparatus is as follows:

In the cast-iron part 1 by means of a stuffing-box formed by the nuts 6and 7 is secured a glass tube 9, open at one end, its open end beingdirected toward the part 1 and its closed end projecting from the nut 7.On the part 1 by means of flanges and bolts is fastened a part 2, inwhich is immovablyfixed a spiral spring t by one end, while on the otherend is fastened a cast-iron weight 3 of the peculiar form shown in thedrawings, with an internal annular projection embracing concentricallythe end of the aforesaid glass tube 9. The fastening of the spring inthe part 2 and in the weight 3 may be most conveniently effected bymeans of pouring over it some easily-fusible composition, care beingtaken that in the horizontal position of the part 2 the center of thesaid annular projection of the weight 3 should coincide exactly with theaxis of the part 2.

Between the parts 1 and 2 when the apparatus is being assembled isinserted a round disk 8, of sheet-iron, with an aperture in the centercorresponding to the contour of the nut 7. This disk tightly embracingthe nut 7 in any position it may assume and being itself clamped betweenthe flanges of the parts 1 and 2 does not permit of the nut 7 unscrewingfrom the shocks accompanying the movement of the rolling-stock.

The free end of the part 2 is closed with a latticed cover 5, preventingforeign bodies from getting into the apparatus.

Parts 1 and 2, serving to secure and adjust in them the internal partsof the apparatus, at the same time completely close and protect themfrom accidental damage and atmospheric influences. The apparatus bymeans of the horizontal flange situated on the part 1 is fitted on therolling-stock on any place convenient for the purpose in such a mannerthat the axis of the apparatus should be hori-- zontal and parallel tothe longitudinal axis of the rolling-stock. On connecting then theapparatus with the common piping of the air-brake by means of the nut 11and the connecting-tube, there beinginserted at the place of junction anet 10 to prevent the piping from becoming blocked with fragments of thetube in case of the latter getting broken, the apparatus is ready foraction.

The action of the apparatus is as follows: In the case of ordinaryvertical and lateral shocks and concussions experienced by therolling-stock during its movement in consequence of the unevenness ofthe track the weight 3, rocking on the spring 4, does not reach with itsannular projection to the glass tube 9, and the latter remains Whole. Inlike manner in the case of longitudinal shocks of any violenceforexample, during maneuvering during coupling or starting of the traintheweight 3 by extending or compressing the spring 4 travels parallel tothe axis of the tube 9, and the latter remains untouched. In the case,however, of any vertical or lateral shocks exceeding in their violence adefinite limit determined by the elasticity of the spring 4for example,in the case of shocks caused by the fracture of the axles, wheels, orsprings or the derailment 0f the rollingstockthe Weight 3 by means ofits annular projection strikes against the glass tube 9 and the latterbreaks, thus giving free issue to the air from the common piping of thebrake if the latter is operated by compressed air or, on the contrary,admitting air from the external atmosphere to the piping of the brake ifthe latter is operated by rarefied air. Thus the brake independently ofits system is brought into action at the very instant of the firstabnormal shock experienced by the rolling-stock, and by this very factthe wrecking or derailment of the train is prevented, or at any rate thedimensions assumed by such wrecking or derailment are considerablydiminished.

The principal peculiarities of the apparatus invented by me as comparedwith other apparatus having the same object consist in theabove-specified perfectly original construction of the chief parts ofthe apparatus'. e., the weight of special form mounted on the end of thespiral spring and embracing concentrically the end of the glass tubeconnected with the common piping of the air-brake, as likewise in thepeculiar action of these partsfounded on the fact that on the occurrenceof the first abnormal shock experienced by the rolling-stock upon whichthe apparatus is fitted the glass tube breaks and the brace is broughtautomatically into action. Owing to this construction the apparatuspresents a perfectly complete and compact part, and the action of theapparatus is thoroughly trustworthy and independent of the loading ofthe rolling-stock, the dimensions or construction of its trucks, andsuch like accidental conditions.

I claim as my invention 1. An automatic apparatus for operatingair-brakes, mounted on a car and consisting essentially of a glass tube,closed at one extremity and communicating with the common piping of thebrake, and of a weight, surrounding this tube for a certain distance andcarried by a spring, these parts being combined in such a manner thatthe first abnormal shock experienced by the car causes the fracture ofthe tube by the weight and opens the communication between the piping ofthe brake and the surrounding air, which causes the brake toactsnbstantially as described in the present specification andrepresented in the annexed drawings.

2. The combination with the train-pipe of an air-brake system, of a tubeof fragile material in communication therewith, a Weight adjacent tosaid tube, and a resilient support for said weight.

3. The combination with a railway-vehicle equipped with an air-brake, ofa tube of fragile material arranged in communication with thetrain-pipe, and with its axis parallel with the longitudinal axis of thevehicle, a weight adjacent to said tube, and a resilient support forsaid weight permitting it to move both lengthwise and transversely ofsaid tube.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twowitnesses.

ARTHUR JALLAN DE LA CROIX.

Witnesses:

N. TSOHEKALOFF, A. TSOHEKALOFF.

